Garment finishing device



Nov. 30, 1948. J. c. SHAW ET AL GARMENT FINISHING DEVICE 2 ySheets-Sl'xeet 1 Filed Feb. 14, 194e 7 FIG.

m Nv Ww Me, 5 Y R6 E O E N TN R N A T O EIR n VlmuA A JH m/w, m FL i G F HL NOV 30, 1948. J. c. SHAWy ETAL l GARMENT FINISHING DEVICE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 FIG.

FIG. 5

INVENToRs Patented Nov. 30, 1948 2,454,888 (lliiltll/HEIN'LE.1 FINISHING DEVICE JulianC. Shaw and HarrylE. Blettner, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignors to The American Laundry Machinery Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 14, 1946, Serial No. 647,611 ic'ciaims. (c1. 22a- 70) This invention relates to garment finishing devices, and more particularly to that type oi device in which the garment is supported-upon or around a hollow fabric bag through which hot air or steam, or both, may be caused to ow* to the garment for finishing it in a well-known manner. U

One object of the present invention is lto im.- prove the bag or form upon or around which the garment is dressed, by reinforcing it-so as to increase its life, and strengthen it :against the strains and stresses resulting from the pressure of air and steam supplied to it.

Another object is to provide an improved bagy or form of the character described, including means for controlling expansion of the bag by the fluid pressure within it.

Still another object is to provide an improved bag ci the type described, including reinforcing members and operating means therefor `so arranged as to control and limit bag inflation either automatically or under control of the operator, as will more fully appear.

Still another object of the invention is to pro'- vide an improved garment steaming bag of the kind described, including reinforcing ribs and operating means therefor which are so arranged` as normally to bias the bag toward collapsed condition, but which are yieldable to permit thebag to expand under the influence of inflating pressure.

Still another object of the invention is to prcvide a garment steaming bag of theqcharacter described, provided with a series of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending ribs which compel expansion of the bag to escalloped form, so that the bag contacts with the garment,

if at all, only along spaced lines, instead of continuously. v Other objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail here# inafter.

In the drawings, I' Fig. l represents a side elevation of voneembodiment of the invention, parts being-'broken' out and in section to expose interior const-ruction; s Fig. 2 is a front elevation oi the upper por jon'- of the device, similarly broken out; g

Fig. 3 is an elevation Vof the upper portion of the device, corresponding to Fig. 1, and illustrating another arrangement; Fig. 4 is a detail elevation, from the left in Fig. l, and on a larger scale, and illustrating the manually operated device for controlling bag-im nation; l

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof, partly in section, on the line 5 5, Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional plan view on the line Fig. 2; and v .v

Fig. l is a similar view on the line 'i-l, Fig. 2.

The device shown in the drawings comprises a suitable base l0 adapted to rest upon the oor or other suitable support and upon which is mounted a hollow casing il enclosing a hot air chamber l2, a steam supply nozzle I3, a heating device of hollow pail form, marked generally I4, and which serves both to heat the air stream and to vaporize moisture `and condensate and thus insure a dry steam supply, and a controlling valve device I5, operated by handle I6, for the air stream, which is produced by a ian or blower Il operated by motor I3. I3 indicates a valve for controlling the flow of steam to nozzle I3, said valve being actuated by controlling pedal 20.

q The parts so iar described may be constructed and arranged in any suitable manner, such for example as described more in detail in a patent of George W. Johnson for Garment finishing apparatus, granted May 27, 1947, No. 2,421,203, to which reference may be had ii desirable or necessary. klVlounted upon the upper end of the heating member I4 is an upright post 2l provided with supporting feet 22 anchored on member Ill and provided at its upper end with outwardly extending bars 23 which support the shoulder portions of a hollow bag 24. This bag is the one upon which the garment to be iinished is dressed. It may be of any suitable shape, but usually is of the general shape oi the particular garment. That shown is adapted particularly for nishing ladies gowns or dresses, and comprises an upper waist portion 2d tapering downwardly to the belt line 25, as shown in Fig. 2, and having its wall flaring or enlarging downwardly below the belt line to provide the skirt portion 26 which, at its lower or hem end, has an expanded portion 2l, including surplus material, the lower endet which isv gathered in and secured, as by a clamping ring 28, to a sleeve or collar surrounding an opening atl the top of the heating chamber lI2 and forming a means of communication between said'heating chamber and the space within'the bag.` The bag is usually made of -canvas or other suitable porous nexible fabric.

Within the skirt portion of the bagwe mount` suitable means `for reinforcing it and controlling its inflation. As illustrated the inner surface oi the skirt portion of thebag, at intervals circum. ierentially thereof,A is provided with a vertically extending reinforcing and stifening rib, such as 3 a fairly strong wire or rod 29. Any number thereof may be used, the drawings showing eight. Each of these rods is enclosed in a long narrow envelope 30 formed by parallel rows of stitching attaching a strap to the body of the bag.

The Asei/eral rods f2.9 .at their'upper fende VVLare pivotally Vconnected to arms 3i pivoted onaring or sleeve 32 lxedly secured to the post 2|, and at a lower point are provided with ears or lugs z33 pivotally connected to links 34 Whichffinzturnfiare pivoted to arms 35 on a sleeve 36 slidably mounted on the post 2l. rThe arrangement"tis-"something like that of the ribs of an ordinary umbrella.

As described in the said Johnson `ap1:5lic:a'.tinn above referred to, a garment is iinished in this apparatus by dressing or arranging'itJupon'lor around the bag While the latter is in collapsed position, as shown in Eig. l. Then hotair,"or steam, or both are introduced or supplied to the 'chamber Within the` bag to expand it and permit the ilow of the hot airorlsteam, `orfboth, through the fabric of `thefbag' to and throughy thegarment.

In the present arrangement thef'set ofribs-29, with lthe envelopes in which theyare enclosed, fandfthe operatim;v devices 'connected "to said fribs, 'are utilized not fonly Ito limiter .control expansion for .initiation of y'the Cbag, but also Ito lassist". in 'the distribution ofiairror. steam to the garment.

Wihenf the bag is collapsedI the sleeve 136 liesin its upperfposition, shown in'Fig.`f1. Wheniluid pressure enters lthe "-bag it expandsy or becomes initiated, and thesleeve 3B moves downwardly' and linkslassume more inclined .positions as Shown in Figs.f2 and f6, Where thelba'g is fully inate'd. Here; thefabric o'f the bag expands .outwardly`l -into the'torm of alseri'es of scallopsor corrugations f4`0, Figf, 'separated by thevalleys lin which the-ribs and envelopes are located. `Thus, the bag fcontacts'thegarment, if atallin'its skirt portion, only sat the ycrests of fthe scallops or 'corrugatizms permitting more thorough distribution ofltheehot air; and `steam to the A'entire area4 oftliecma'terial of thegarment. 1

3Usually We provide the apparatus 'with biasing means yieldably opposing bag expansion aand tending tolcollapse it, although thisisfnotalways essential. 'This-means maybe-employed tophysieally Econtract the* bagwhen theflsuppliesifof lair and steam are turned pif.

In Fig. fl'we connectbthe -sleeve Ito onevend of =`a-filexible"band, =such as a wire orfcablelLthe upper end-of which isf fastened tof and travels fin thegroove of apulley 5K3 rotatably; mounted on-a shaft 'i441 and-lyingfwithin a small.` casi-ng l5 :secured/to the upperA end of Ithe"post"2| fPulleylS is-secure'dftoon'e end o'f'abiasing springf, shown as-a coil-spring, thefotherfen'd of v'vvhichfis lseeured tothe casingandsaidspring always tendsto turn the pulley in La direction to Wind up the fcable, elevate sleeve SandthuscHapSe'the bag. rl'ull'ey @Slis-alsofcennected tofafsleeve 41 extendingitofthe outside 'ofl theffcasing 'Lwhere vit. is= providedwith a handle I|58 fastened ffwith an farm 49 tand iapin 5U: adapted'- .tof-enter any one o"f a series of holes 5l in fa stationary-plate 52. Sha is :.threa'dedinto sawvall df the :casing .45::`tm'd:on its router .end 'supports 5a; freely rotatable?` knobrS. 'It will/also beun'der'stoodthat plleylgsleevef and handle 48 as '-a`lunt,areboth sli'd'able longitudinally movable' on the shaft, and morev specically 'may be moved to vthe 'left 'on'f'sa'id shaft 'f against 'the fendwise ."pressure of spring '46 so'asttoxiisengage pini from thelioles l.

` .Assuming the l'bag'Se'o'llapsed Iwith'lthefgarment dressed upon it ready for'fnishmggitwllibeibserved that outward movement of the ribs 29, and bag expansion, are stopped or prevented by the interlocking of pin 5B in one of the stop holes 5l The operator turns on the air supply to inate the bag. But this operation is performed with :.caxvizllyccontrl'led bag expansion. The bag is 'large cnrffullenough to receive Mor accommodate the maximum size of garment to be finished. "Thus, if it is permitted to expand freely, Without frestraintfwvithin a small sized garment, the gare ment may become unduly stretched, wrinkled or jotlflertvise distorte'd.

"With xthe "arrangement described When the 'supplyoffcompressed air is turned on, the operatorapp'lies the palm of his hand to knob 5e and Withngerspulls out handle 48. This releases the expansion restraining lock by Withfdrawingpin 5B from the hole 5I in which it lies. The air supplied underfpressure immediately be- 'oomesweteotivetofexpand the bag land at the 'same'ftlme'rotatepulley 43,.sleever-41.and handle W8 fagaiinst-'thebiasing effect of spring 46. To assistiti-1e operator -incontrollin'gorregulating bag expansion, thefarmMB is'ma'de'to serve =as apointer traveling-ever ascaieE indicating diiterentpositions or degrees of expansion. When the ".-ba'ghas expanded :sulfiioiently inthe opinion :of the voperaf-tor, either as #indicatedon'the'scale orras evidenced bythe eieetnponthefgnarmentitsel the operator releaseshandle #Brand-permitsthepin 50 to enter another of ftliersto'p holes 251 and `thus prevent further bag expansion. Bag expansion .usually is produced .eprogressivelv 'by la :seri-es of steps, performed kinv succession, '.-each y.permitting the bag vto vl'expand a Little more .until .it finally comfortably llls the @garment 'without .unduly stretching for :distorting "'it. The .expanded hagf-lii'lsfthegarmet, .but 'contacts with vits skirt portiongiwithfl-ightIpressure, f. only along a series flinesffatthe' lcrests fof.: the scallops ,'I between ribs, thus @avoiding the :productien of z circumferential or other Wrinkles. Beyondthislpoint'it cannot gid-seven'thou'ghltheair or steam valveiis opened tvideienougrrtoprovdetullasupply. :Consequently Whenithe operator-"limsifpermittedfzcontrolled'rbag expansionv toffthe tight point, :and 'has` lookedthe vexpansion-Ires'training means, no special :attention sinecessaryiiurmgeithersteaming or/drying.

#the f iiishin'g `.operation is rconcluded, the operator turns off the air and steam and again pulls 'outhan'dltoreleasethe loekpin 50. "The 'bagslfthen'collapsed 'eitherf'by thefeflort of the opertonmr Hoyt-permitting biasing Afspring .'46 to move thefribslf!!! inwaidlysand thefnished garment 'isiremuvedrom the iform.

Yligjf'showsm: simpler. :arrangement .in which theisleeve-:'islcennected'to oneendof.' af-tension spring 55, the other end of which is acliustably secured; by.=sctewr5B,'.-fto rafsmall braoketon .the postfl. "#"I-I'ereffthe tension of the .springv is .fadiusted so that it is sufficient to fully collapse .the bag. Whenpressure is turned.on,zo^f'air or-steam, theibageexpands.immediately,"' the amount of exlimfitedlby vcontrolling or regulating themate-.ofaairror veteamz supply fand :the consequent tension .applied to the spring, as will'be readily. understood.

In both Aforms Pdeseribedthelibag iis "reinforced at intervalszeirnumferentially, is caused to `assume aneesellloped form'fand :lts-expansion or inflation is controlled in the mann'erldescri'bed.

#Ctheraadvantages oftthefinvention'will be apparentftoithoseskllled :inthe art.

l. A hishing device of the character described,

comprising a base having an open supporting ring, a bag having one end open Aand secured to said ring, means forcausing the flow of a gas under pressure through said ring into the space Within said bag, a series of ribs distributed at intervals around said bag and secured thereto, and yielding means connected to said ribs and opposing bag inflation.

2. A nishing device of the character described, comprising a base having an open supporting ring,-a bag having one end open and secured to said ring, means for causing flow of a gas under pressure through said ring into the space within said bag, a series of ribs distributed at intervals around said bag and secured thereto, yielding means connected to said ribs and opposing bag inilation, said means including a post supporting the upper end of said bag, a member slidable on said post, and a series of arms, one for each rib, connecting said member and ribs, and a spring effective upon said member.

3. A finishing device of the character described, comprising a vertical post, a hollow bag having its upper end supported by said post and its lower end open, means for supplying a stream of gas under pressure to the open lower end of said bag, a ring slidable on said post and provided with a series of radial arms connected at intervals to said bag, and yielding means supporting said ring.

Li. A iinishing device of the character described, comprising a vertical post, a fhollow bag having its upper end supported by said post and its lower end open, means for supplying a stream of gas under pressure to the open lower end of said bag,

a ring slidable on said post and provided with a series of radial arms connected at intervals to said bag, yielding means supporting said ring, and adjustable stop means limiting bag inflation.

5. A finishing device of the character described, comprising a support provided with a base having an open supporting ring, an elongated bag having one end open and secured to said ring, means for causing the flow of a gas under pressure through said ring into the space within said bag, and a series of ribs distributed at intervals around said bag, each thereof extending longitudinally of the bag and being attached at several points along its length to the bag and loosely connected at one end to the support, said ribs preventing out ward movement of the bag material where they are attached to it and being adjustable inwardly and outwardly to various positions to vary the bag size when inflated.

6. A finishing device of the character described, comprising a base having an open supporting ring, a bag having one end open and secured to said ring, means for causing the flow of a gas under pressure through said ring into a space within said bag, a series of ribs distributed at intervals around said bag and attached thereto, and adjustable stop means connected to said ribs and limiting bag inflation.

7. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a flexible porous bag upon which garments of various sizes may be dressed, means for causing the flow of a treating gas to the space within said bag in quantity suicient to fully expand the same and also supply excess gas for distribution to and flow through the bag and garment for treating purposes, and means operatively associated with the bag and eiective upon it at a plurality of points distributed both circum erentially and longitudinally over its entire garment supporting area for limiting bag expansion at such points to a degree short of full bag ex- Lic pansion predetermined by the operator butper-V mitting limited ballooning effect upon the bag between such points, whereby bag expansion may be controlled and adapted to any of various sizes of garments without stretching or distorting the same.

8. Garment finishing apparatus oi the character described, comprising a base provided with an open supporting ring, an elongated iexible porous garment supporting bag having a skirt portion open at its lower end and secured to said ring, means for causing the flow of gas under pressure through said ring and bag opening into the space within said bag, and restraining means supported upon the base forr movement outwardly from and inwardly toward the bag center and having portions which simultaneously engage the bag at various points distributed both circurnferentiallyl and longitudinally of the entire area ci its skirt portion and which thus are movable with the bag material but also are effective to oppose bag inflation caused by the pressure of the gas sup-plied to it.

9. Garment finishing apparatus of the character described, comprising a base provided with an open supporting ring, an elongated fiexible porous garment supporting bag having a skirt portion open at its lower end and secured to said ring, means for `causing the flow `of gas under pressure through said ring and `bag opening into the space within said bag, and restraining means mounted upon the base and having portions which simultaneously engage the bag at various points distributed both circumferentially and longitudinally of the entire area of its skirt portion and which thus are movable with the bag material but also are eiiective to oppose bag inflation caused by the pressure of the gas supplied to it, and adjustable 'stop means operatively connected to said restrainingme'an's for Vpositively limiting both outward movement thereof and accompanying bag inflation to any degree predetermined by the operator.

10. Garment nishing apparatus, comprising a ilexible porous bag having a skirt portion upon which garments of various sizes may be dressed, means for causing the ii-ow of a treating gas to the space within said bag, and a series of supporting elements engaging the Ibag at points distributed circumferentially and longitudinally of its skirt portion and limiting outward bag movement at such points but permitting it between them, whereby the expanded bag presents to the garment a series of rounded bulges contacting it at separated intervals.

1l. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising a base, a flexible, expansible and ycollapsible porous bag having an open bottom and secured to the base, means for supporting the bag in upright position upon the base, means for supplying garment 4treating fluid under pressure thr-ough the open bottom of the bag to the space within it for both expanding the bag by the ballooning eiect and causing the flow of fluid to and through the garment through the material of the bag, control means therefor, yieldable bag collapsing means operatively associated with the bag and tending to bias it toward collapsed position, stop means effective upon the :bag for limiting bag expansion in any oi the various positions to which it may be expanded, and operator operated means for releasing said stop means, whereby selectively the bag either may be controllably expanded to any degree predetermined by the operator or uid pressure.y

12. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising 'a bag made of flexible porous material and provided with means. for supplying a treating gas to the space within it and upon which bag a garment may be dressed, and reinforcing and stiieningf means for said bag, comprising a series of elongated rib members distributed at intervals upon the 'bag and attached to it at a series ofI points spaced both longitudinally and circumferentially over the garment supporting area oi the bag.

1-3. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising an. elongated fbag made of porous flexible material and provided with means for supplying a treating gas to the space within it, said .bag being provided withY a series of longitudinally extending elongated pockets distributed at intervals upon it, and an elongated stifiening rib in each of said pockets.

14. Garmentnishing apparatus, comprising an elongated bag made off; porous flexible material. and provided with means for supplying a treating gas to the space Within it, said bag being provided with a seriesof longitudinally extending elongated pockets distributed at intervals upon it, an elongated stiiening rib in each oi said pockets, a post extending longitudinally through said Ibag for supporting it, and a ring mounted on said post to which all of said ribs are secured.

15. Garment finishing apparatus, comprising an elongated bag made. of `porous nexilble material and provided with means for supplying a treating gas to the space Within it, said bag being provided with a series of longitudinally eX- tending elongated pockets distributed at intervals upon it and each extending longitudinally of the bag, an elongated stiiening rib in each of said pockets. a. post extending longitudinally through said bag for supporting it, and two rings mounted upon said post, one iixed thereto and the other movable thereon, said ribs being each secured at one end tothe xedring and at another DOint to the movable ring.

16. Garment iinishing apparatus, comprising a downwardly-flaring generally skirt-form bag made of porous ilexible material and provided with means for causing the flow of a treating gas to the space within it, a series of ribs distributed at intervals around the bag and attached thereto, each rib extending vertically between the waist and hem of the bag, an operating member movable back and forth to which said ribs are connected for causing simultaneous inward or outward movement of all ribs according as said member moves in one direction or another, and operator operated stop means effective upon said movable member, said stop means being operatable to control bag expansion by limiting `outward rib movement to any desired position predetermined by the operator, thereby enabling him to accommodate the bag to any size or shape of garment |being finished and to prevent undesiredl stretching or distortion thereof.

JULIAN C. SHAW. HARRY E. BLETTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 245,361 Eavestaff Aug. 9, 1881 905,334 Levin Dec. l, 1908 1,267,937 Uford May 28, 1918 2,079,726 Wilson May 11, 1937 2,378,565 Locke et a1 June 19, 1945 

